Why Study / Key Benefits

• Develop practical skills in animal handling, husbandry, hygiene, welfare and basic healthcare assistance.

• Learn about companion-animal anatomy, physiology, nutrition, behaviour and infection control.

• Gain supervised practical experience through required clinical placements.

• Train in facilities with animal housing, practical handling areas, mock-surgery facilities and veterinary equipment.

• Build a pathway towards further study in the New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6).

• Become eligible to apply for registration on the New Zealand Register of Animal Healthcare Assistants after completing the programme.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme contains eight compulsory courses, each worth 15 credits.

Semester 1:

• Companion Animal Professionalism and Infection Control – professional conduct, safe working practices and infection-control procedures in animal healthcare environments.

• Companion Animal Anatomy and Physiology – animal nutrition, basic anatomy and physiology to support companion-animal patient care.

• Companion Animal Husbandry – safe animal handling, appropriate husbandry practices, health and welfare.

• Companion Animal Clinical Skills 1 – day-to-day care, animal behaviour, hygiene, handling and communication within an animal healthcare team. Includes at least 120 hours of practicum.

Semester 2:

• Companion Animal Health and Hygiene – knowledge and skills to assist in providing companion-animal healthcare.

• Companion Animal Clinical Assistance – clinical assistance across animal healthcare environments.

• Companion Animal Preparation for Practice – preparation for clinical practice and first aid.

• Companion Animal Clinical Skills 2 – assisting with animal healthcare and clinical procedures as part of an interprofessional team. Includes 120 hours of practicum.

Disciplines / Specialisations

• Companion-animal healthcare.

• Animal handling and husbandry.

• Animal anatomy, physiology and nutrition.

• Infection control and hygiene.

• Veterinary clinical assistance.

• Animal behaviour and welfare.

• Basic clinical procedures and first aid.

Programme Highlights

• Practical learning in animal healthcare environments.

• Access to an animal housing facility, practical handling room and mock-surgery facilities.

• Use of husbandry equipment such as dog baths, feeding and grooming equipment, and animal restraint devices.

• Access to cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and other companion animals for learning activities.

• Access to science laboratories with microscopes, microbiological equipment, incubators, water baths, histology and parasitology materials, and diagnostic testing equipment.

• Industry connections listed by UCOL include Totally Vets, Southern Rangitikei Veterinary Services, Cahill’s Animal Hospital, Pet Doctors Palmerston North, Levin & Horowhenua Vets, Robinsons Vet Clinic, Animates Vet Care, Boyce C G Veterinary Clinic and Gribbles Veterinary.

Career Outcomes

After completing the programme, graduates may:

• Assist veterinarians and veterinary nurses in companion-animal practices.

• Seek animal healthcare assistant roles in veterinary clinics and related animal-care settings.

• Apply for registration on the New Zealand Register of Animal Healthcare Assistants.

• Continue studying through the two-year New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6), subject to meeting its entry requirements.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The programme page currently lists February and July 2027 start dates.

• 100% attendance is required for all practical classes and work placements; attendance is strongly recommended for theory classes.

• Students must be physically able to carry out the practical activities required in the animal room and clinical placements.

• Students must be comfortable working with animals, animal body parts, body fluids and cadavers, including dissection activities.

• UCOL may decline an application if an applicant’s physical ability or level of discomfort with these activities prevents them from meeting programme requirements. Staff discuss these practical requirements with applicants.

• At least 240 hours of clinical placement must be completed in an animal health setting, with at least 80 hours in a veterinary clinic.

• Placements are likely to be outside the wider Manawat? region. Students are responsible for sourcing out-of-region placements in consultation with the Programme Leader.

• UCOL gives priority for local placements to single parents with children under five. Not having a car or driver's licence, having work commitments, or having animals to care for does not qualify a student for priority local placement.

• Students should budget for additional travel and accommodation costs if placed outside the region.

• Recognition of Prior Learning, including cross credit, credit transfer and assessment of prior learning, may be considered case by case.

 

International Student Visa Requirements

International students intending to study this full-time programme will generally need a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand’s published requirements include:

• Offer of place: an offer from an approved education provider, such as UCOL.

• Tuition fees: evidence that the required tuition fees have been paid, or that the student has an acceptable scholarship or other funding arrangement.

• Living expenses: because this is a one-year tertiary programme, the general requirement is NZD 20,000 for the year, or an acceptable sponsor. This is separate from tuition fees.

• Outward travel: evidence of a ticket out of New Zealand or sufficient additional funds to purchase one. This must be in addition to the required living funds.

• Insurance: acceptable medical and travel insurance for the period from the start of the course until the visa expires.

• Health and character: applicants must meet Immigration New Zealand’s health and character requirements.

• Genuine study purpose: applicants must demonstrate a genuine reason for studying in New Zealand.

• Attendance and progress: students must attend the course stated on their visa and make satisfactory progress.

• Practical placement: because this programme requires clinical work experience, students should obtain confirmation from UCOL that the placement is a compulsory part of the course. Immigration New Zealand states that required practical work experience is additional to the hours permitted under student visa employment conditions.

• Work rights: eligible students may be permitted to work up to 25 hours per week during study and full-time during scheduled holidays, depending on their individual visa conditions. These rights are not automatic; check the conditions on the visa.

• Application timing: Immigration New Zealand recommends applying at least three months before intended travel.

Current published visa information:

• Application fee: from NZD 850.

• Processing time: 80% of applications within 7 weeks.

• Maximum visa length: up to four years, although the actual visa period depends on the study paid for, passport validity and individual circumstances.